Apparatus for selective signaling



No. 750,777. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904.- K. MOODIE & J. s. SMALL. APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1902.

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K. MOODIE & J. S. SMALL. APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1902.

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UNITED STATES KENNETH MOODIE AND JOHN S. SMALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN- Patented January 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-FOURTH TO RICH- ARD H. PIERCE AND SAMUEL G. NEILER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE SIGNALING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,777, dated January 26, 1904.

Application filed September 13, 1902. Serial No. 123,244. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, KENNETH Moonrn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and JOHN S. SMALL, a citizen of the United States, both residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Selective Signaling, of which the following is a specification.

By selective signaling we mean a system whereby any one signal or apparatus of a series of connected signals or apparatuses may be operated at will without putting into operation the other devices of the series.

Our invention relates to improvements in devices for selective signaling applicable to a plurality of electrically-operated devices so arranged on a common electric circuit as to be controlled, tripped, or operated directly or indirectly through the medium of electricallycontrolled magnets located in said circuit.

Our invention, broadly considered, involves an electric circuit, a plurality of solenoids or of magnets normally energized in whole or in part through the medium of helices interposed in said circuit, a second circuit, a plurality of helices interposed in said second circuit, each helix of said second circuit being arranged so as to neutralize the action of the corresponding helix in the other circuit when supplied with the requisite current, and a plurality of devices actuated by means of said magnets.

A device embodying our invention may be constructed in any one of several ways, each of which involves the same broad invention as above stated. For instance, the helices in the primary circuit may be arranged in series, each helix having the same number of turns as every other helix and each helix being supplied with a current having the same amperage as that flowing through the other maincircuit helices. IV hen so arranged, the neutralizing-helices interposed in series in the second or operating circuit will differ in number of turns from each other, and by any wellknown convenient means affecting the operating-circuit the amperage of the current supplied to the operating-helices may be varied at will, so that a current may at will be supplied to any one of the operating-helices, which shall serve to neutralize the electromagnetic effect of its complementary main-circuit helix without thereby neutralizing others of the main-circuit helices. So, also, if desired, the main-circuit current may be so shunted that certain main-circuit helices will receivea current of different amperage from other main-circuit helices, in which event all the helices in each circuitmay be of uniform number of turns, the amperage of the operatingcurrent being varied at will by the operator as before to enable him at will to neutralize any of the main-circuit helices. So, also, the helices may be arranged in series or in multiple and the details of the windings may be varied in numerous ways familiar to a practical electrical engineer and the amperage of the current may be Varied by varying the voltage or by varying the resistance, or both,

without affecting our invention, so long as the two circuits and the two sets of helices, With their complementary devices, are so arranged that the operator may at will send into any operating-helix a current which shall result in producing in the operating-helix the same number of ampere-turns as the main current is then producing in the corresponding maincircuit helix.

Although we have stated that the helices, &c. are so arranged with regard to each other that an operating-helix will neutralize its complementary main-circuit helix or will have the same number of ampere-turns, it will be understood that it is only necessary to neutralize the effect of the main-circuit helix to such an extent as shall permit the armaturespring or other force acting upon the armature in opposition to the pull of its magnet to draw such armature away from the magnet to any desired extent.

Our invention, broadly considered, is adaptable for use in a wide field, including the signaling devices of party-line telephones, electrically operated semaphores in railroad block systems, the electrical transmission of type-writing, &c.

A further object of our invention is to provide means whereby all of the instruments on a circuit may be instantaneously and simultaneously operated at the will of the operator. These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear may be attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of our apparatus set in its normal position; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showing the position-of the apparatus when one of the devices is released without affecting the other devices located in the system. Fig. 3 is a like diagrammatic view showing the position of the apparatus when all of the devices are simultaneouslyreleased. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail showing the winding of one of the helices. Figs. 5 and 6 show details of a preferred form of switch. Fig. 7 is a detail of a modified arrangement of the helices, and Fig. 8 shows an alternative arrangement.

Like letters and numerals of reference indicate the'same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring by letters and numerals to the accompanying drawings, A represents what in this specification will be termed the main circuit. For most uses of our apparatus this main circuit will be normally closed, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby providing a continuous current flowing in the direction indicated by the arrows around the circuit and through the helices B, C, and D. The helices B, C, and D may be simple solenoids or may be wound about cores 1 2 3, respectively.

G is a second circuit, which we will for convenience term the operating-circuit, which is normally open and is controlled by means of the switch H, arranged to close the circuit at will through contacts 1, 2, and 3. Arranged in the circuit G and between contacts 1' and 2 is a resistance device or coil 0, and between contacts 2f and 3 is a resistance device f. Interposed in the operating-circuit G are helices b, c, and (Z of differing resistances surrounding the cores 1, 2, and 8, respectively. The helices b c d are so arranged that when the operating-circuit G is closed the current will flow through the helices b 0 (Z in a direction opposite to that of the main-circuit current flowing through the helices B C D.

Of course it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the word open as applied to a circuit is necessarily a comparative term, and for all practical purposes of our invention the operating-circuit may be considered open, or in its normal position, when the operating-current passing over the operatingcircuit is substantially shut off by breaking 'the circuit or is so far reduced in efiiciency,

either by cutting in resistances or by reducmg the voltage, or otherwise that the operating-current will not be of sufficient amperage to'operatively effect any of the main-circuit helices.

Vith the parts arranged in their normal position, as shown in Fig; 1, we will assume, merely for convenient illustration, that each of the helices B C D has three hundred turns and offers a resistance of thirty ohms. Disregarding, therefore, any additional incidental resistance in the circuit the total resistance in the circuit will be ninety ohms. If we now supply the circuit A with a current at one hundred and eighty volts, it follows that with a total resistance in the circuit of ninety ohms we will have a current of, two amperes, which will give us six hundred ampere-turns in each of the helices B C D. For convenience of illustration we will assume that the helices b 0 d in the operating-circuit have one hundred, two hundred, and three hundred turns and offer a resistance of ten, twenty, and thirty ohms, respectively, or a total resistance of sixty ohms. If now we close the sWitchHto contact 1, and thereby supply the circuit G with a current of three hundred and sixty volts, we will have a current of six amperes in the operating-circuit. This current of six amperes, passing through helix 6, having one hundred-turns, will give us six hundred ampere-turns, which will exactly neutralize the six hundred ampere-turns in main-circuit helix B, which has three hundred turns and is supplied with a current of two amperes. It follows, however, that the operating-current of six amperes supplied to helix 0, having two hundred turns, will produce twelve hundred ampere-turns, which will reverse the magnetism of core 2, and the same current will produce eighteen hundred ampere-turns in helix (Z, which will reverse the magnetism of core 3.

If now we desire to release armature J, we will turn switch H to contact 2, thereby throwing the operating-current through resistance-coil e of sixty ohms resistance, whereby the total resistance in circuit G is increased to one hundred and twenty ohms and the amperageis reduced to three. This current of three amperes supplied to helix 5 will only produce three hundred ampere-turns, which will be insufficient to neutralize helix B; but this current of three amperes,passing through helix 0 of two hundred ohms resistance, will produce six hundred ampere-turns, which will neutralize the effect of helix C and will release armature J, while the two-ampere current will produce twelve hundred ampereturns in helix (Z and will consequently reverse the magnetism of core 3.

To release armature K, switchHis brought to contact 3', thereby throwing the operatingcir cuit through resistance-coil f of sixty ohms resistance, as well as resistance-coil 6, with corresponding changes in the effect and operation of the current.

In Fig. 8 we have shown another arrangement embodying the broad principles of our invention, in which, by means of shunt-circuits which divide at m, 7 and .2, respectively, from the main circuit A, the helices B, (J, and D are supplied with currents of different amperage, with the result that the cores 1, 2, and 3 normally differ from each other in magnetic pull. In this arrangement the helices 7/, c, and d have the same number of turns as their complementary main-circuit helices, and the amperage of the current flowing through the operating-circuit is varied at will by the use of switches H, H and H only one of which is closed at a time and which introduce varying resistances into the operating-circuit.

It willbe understood that while in the drawings and in the foregoing explanations we have shown some ways in which the amperage of the current may be varied and controlled to enable the operator to operate different devices upon the main circuit at will of course we do not limit our invention to the specific ways shown and described for controlling the amperage of the current, as this can be done in various ways, which are well understood in this art and which may be used either separately or in conjunction with each other. The fundamental law that the amperage equals the voltage divided by the resistance being known, it is only necessary in controlling the amperage to vary either the voltage or the resistance, or both, in any well-understood manner.

If with the parts in their normal positions it is desired to simultaneously release all of the armatures on the circuit, the operatingcircuit being in its normal open position, it is only necessary to break the main circuit by means of the switch L or in any other convenient manner, whereupon the cores 1 2 3 will be simultaneously demagnetized and their armatures will be instantly released.

WVhile we have illustrated our invention as applied to a system controlling three apparatuses-such, for instance, as the signals for three separate telephones on acommon party line or three separate semaphores on a common circuit it will be readily understood that our invention is broadly applicable to the control of any number of devices or sets of devices on the same circuit. So, also, while we have shown our device in its preferred form our invention contemplates any means so arranged that any one of a plurality of electromagnets arranged on a common circuit and normally energized by a current passing over said circuit maybe released by means of a neutralizing-current sent over a second circuit without thereby neutralizing or operating other devices in said first-named circuit. It will also be understood that for practical purposes it will not always be necessary to have the operating-circuit wholly neutralize the main circuit, because as commonly constructed the armature of an electromagnet is provided with a spring or like device normally tending to pull it away from the magnet, and in order to operatively release the armature it is only necessary that the electromagnetic energy of the magnet shall be weakened sufficiently to be overcome by the opposite tension or action of the spring or other device arranged to pull the armature away from the magnet. So, also, while we have spoken of the main circuit as being normally closed there are many situations where it may be desirable to leave the main circuit normally open, in which event it is only necessary to first close the main circuit, so as to set all of the devices in the desired position, before operating any one of those devices by means of the operating-circuit. So, also, it may be desirable to have the operating-circuit normally closed, in which event it is only necessary to reduce the amperage of the operating-current so that it will not normally operatively affect the main-circuit helices, which it is intended shall be normally unaffected by the operating-current.

In Fig. 4: we have shown, in an enlarged cletail and in diagrammatic form, how the maincircuit and operating-circuit helices may be arranged about a common core.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a form of switch suitable for use with some embodiments of our invention, the switch H being of the familiar jackknife form modified by being mounted upon a rotatable post it, which is normally in contact with the annular terminal it, the opposite contact 1 being of a familiar form.

In Fig. 7 we have shown a modified arrangement of the helices and armature, in which the pivoted armature is suspended between oppositely-arranged cores X and Y, the maincircuit helix B being wound about the core X and the operating-helix 6' being wound about the core Y. I/Vith this arrangement the core X will be normally energized by the current passing over the main circuit and the armature will be held against the core X. When the operating-circuit is closed so as to o erate the-armature I it will so ma netize the core Y as to balance or overbalance the electromagnetic force of the core X, as the case may be, and so draw the armature away from the core X, or, if preferred, so ofiiset the action of the core X as to permit the armature-spring to move the armature away from the core X.

I/Vhile for convenient diagrammatic representation of the main and operating circuits, we have shown the switch or station L as separate from the main station for controlling the operating-circuit, it will be understood that in actual practice both switches or sets of switches will be located at the main station, so that the operating-current may be controlled from the main station and at the same time the main circuit may be broken and the whole system instantaneously thrown out of operation from the same main station.

These and similar modifications which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in this art all come within the broad scope of our invention and are contemplated hereby.

WVe clairn 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main circuit and an operating-circuit, of a plurality of helices interposed in each of said circuits, said helices being arranged in pairs, each pair comprising a main-circuit helix and an operating-circuit helix, and means for operatively neutralizing the effect of any main-circuit helix by sending a current of suitable amperage over the operating-circuit, certain of said helices being relatively so arranged and so energized as not to be neutralized by an operating-current which will result in neutralizing another of said helices, substantially as described.

2. In a selective signaling system, the combination with a main circuit and an operatingcircuit, of a plurality of helices interposed in each of said circuits, said helices being arranged in pairs, each pair consisting of a main-circuit helix and an operating circuit helix, each being arranged to operatively neutralize the electromagnetic effect of the other upon being supplied with a suflicient current therefor from their respective circuits, means for so modifying the amperage of the operating-current that each operatingcircuit helix may, at will, be supplied with a current which shall operatively neutralize the effect of the main-circuit current passing over the adjacent main-circuit helix, without thereby neutralizing the effect of the maincircuit current in others of the main-circuit helices, substantially as described.

3. In a selective signaling apparatus, the combination with a plurality of electromagnets, of a main circuit, helices interposed in said main circuit and wound around each of said electromagnets, an operating-circuit, helices interposed in said operating-circuit and so disposed with reference to said. maincircuit helices as to neutralize the eflect of said main-circuit helices upon said electromagnets whenever supplied with a current of ,sufiicient amperage, and current-modifying means connected with the operating-circuit, whereby each one of the operating circuit helics may, at Will, receive a current efficient to operatively neutralize the effect on the adjacent magnet of the main current passing through the adjacent main-circuit helix, substantially as described.

4:. In a selective signaling system, the combination with a main circuit and an operatingcircuit, of a plurality of elcctromagnets, each of said magnets being wound with a helix interposed in the maln circuit and acomplementary helix interposed in the operating.

circuit, the helices of each such pair being so arranged that, when both circuits are closed, either helix may be used to neutralize the electromagnetic efiect of the other upon the magnet, and means connected with the operatingcircuit for modifying the operating-circuit current, whereby any of the operating-circuit helices may, at will, be given from the operating-circuit a current which shall operatively neutralize the effect of the main-circuit current on the magnet about which said helix is wound, substantially as described.

5. In a system for selective signaling, the combination with a main circuit, of a main station and a plurality of substations upon said main circuit, a helix interposed in said main circuit at each of said substations, an operating-circuit connecting said main Station with said substations, operating-helices interposed in said operating-circuit and arranged adjacent to said main circuit helices, said operating-helices being so arranged that, when the operating-circuit is closed, the current passing through the operating-circuit helices will flow in a direction opposite to the current passing through the main-circuit helices, and current-modifying means connected with said operating-circuit, whereby any one of the operating-circuit helices may be supplied with a current sufficient to neutralize the current passing through its adjacent main-circuit helix, without operatively affecting others of the main-circuit helices, substantially as described.

6. In a selective signaling system, the combination with a main station and a plurality of substations, of an electromagnet at each substation, a main circuit connecting said main station with said substations, helices in terposed in said main circuit so as to normally energize said electromagnets, an operating-circuit connecting said main station with said substations, helices interposed in said operating-circuit and so arranged as to neutralize the main-circuit helices and demagnetize the electromagnets at the substations when said operating-circuit is closed, and currentmodifying devices connected with said operating-circuit, whereby the operating-current may, at will, be controlled so as to neutralize the magnetizing effect of the main-circuit current at any one of the substations, without thereby neutralizing such efiect at others of the substations, substantially as described.

KENNETH MOODIE. JOHN S. SMALL. Witnesses: s

'F. H. DRURY,

M. E. SHIELDS. 

